Thread knotting device



Oct. 27, 1931. A. RAMSEIER .8 .8

Q THREAD KNOTTING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y W if I 7/5 g g 4L INVEN TOR Filed May 28, 1950 3 Shouts-Sheet 2 5 vshrozz Oct. 27, 1931. A. RAMSEIER 1 THREAD KNOTTING DEVICE Filed May 28. 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 27, 1931 ALBERT imivrsninm or: ZURICH, swITzEnLAnD, AssIGnoR. mo. nLBEnTaQUENnoz, or ZURIGI-LSWITZERLAND.

THREAD "KNOTTING-DEVIGE I ApplicationfilewMay '28; 1930, '-Serial'No'. 456,431," and in-fswitzerlandwlune -20; 1929.

For tying knots;- particularly" Weavers knots, inechanical' means,- a' great number ofapparatus 1s known Most ot'th'em: are

complicated and;therefore, not 1 easy. to be handled. Furthermore; these apparatus very oftenfailto efiect the standard Weavers knot' in as much'as they do not satisfy all the C011?- ample of artificial :sill'tl.are.not effective in reliable manner and,'besides,--such threads are" even diflicult to be tiedto knots in workmanlike fashion by hand:

V'Vhena Weavers knot is-to be tied by hand thetWo thread ends to he -united are prefer-r ably at first combinedby 'lo0ping -whereupon 1 thethus formed knot is tightened. VJ hen the" tightening operation is closely Watched-zit will. be observed that, for 1 instancey with. :the'- usual procedure ofityingz both-:shortiends of" the two threads are held between two-fingers of the'one' "hand Whilst in':thezineantimethe one thread is gently "tightenedwitlftheother-v hand in order to minimize the formed- 'loop'." After the loop has become very small the short end belonging to thethread which was 1 tightened is given free:andzthelatter-further T tightened until the-knotis completed; Sub

sequently "the other short endJ'is'given: free I and the other thread Ftighten'edaz The object of the present invention is. to eliminate the aboveanentioned disadvantagesof theknown constructions by closely following: the j ust a handlea7'c0operates withazelampingijaw 8.

described knotting operations. v

According to the mlventioni ina: thread knotting device means are provi'dedafor'ac'- connnodating the crossed threadslto be-aztied in a knot ina receiving members-and tosecure them therein during the knottingmperations as Well :as movable members: for forming: a loop with the one thread and'hooklets With both thread ends. This device is distinguished by cutting members for cutting the-thread: ends previous" to the knottingito the proper length; further by two sp-r influenced clamping members for-holdin ends" after the formationofitli'ello'op and; th

hooklets,1 and by means for: actuating clamping members, suchwise; that in tightef eningthe one thread tobe 1 formed; in a loopthe clamping member holding: the end of the tightened? thread is first opened'and the other clamping: member is only opened after. 1 the Weavers knot. iscorrectly formed.

Inthe accompanyingdrawings a construc-. tional form of "the; invention risrillustrated, wherein 1 Fig.1 is a toppla'n viewofthe deviceandj Fig. 2a side elevationvthereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal seo-= tion through thedevice showingrthe rear part: of the same; i I v Fig; ytis'a side elevation ofl'the reanpa'rt of the device With the-ilateral guard plate removed; V v I r F ig.; 5 is a topplanview of the rear-part, of :the device /partly in section; f

Fig. 6 is a.section'simil'ar'itoFig. 3, With; partsof the device in the one Working .posi- Figs; 7

andl8 are sections of details; l

.Fig. .9 isasection on theline; II-II2in-; 4

Fig. 1;

Figs. 10 to 16 illustrateschematically the formation of the;loop and 1 Fig. 1 17. shows the finished WVQSJVBIJS aknot. On the base 1 a guide member includingtwo guide rail's 2 is arrangedialong. which the carriage3 is slidable; rTh'e'carriageis provided with a clampingxappliancefor the thread having a clampinglever 6 Which is;

' acted upon" by 'a-leaf 'spring 4 and turnable= about a pivot 5st The :lever 6 provided :vvithfl Oppo-site thehandle 7 ofthe lever 6a han dleportion 9 is fixed to. .th'eacarriage, Whereby the clamping appliance is convenientlyy operable With: twopfin'gersz The handle 7- projecting? above the handle portion 9,- the; lever 6 is enabled to beconvenient-ly turned against-*the 'action'of the spring 4 and the thread to be laid in azgroove' 10 of"; the clamping jaw 8; Whereuponzthetwohandles are pressed together withtwofingers in order to hold the thread and atthe, same timeqdiss lacerthecarriage 3 in itsguideon'the base '1'.-

Whenshi-fting the carriageiinthe direction,

* mum I of the arrow 11 (Fig. 6) the front face of the clamping jaw 8 bears on a guide ledge 12 of a pivotal flap 13 and on the continuation of the shifting slides along the ledge 12 after the pivotal flap, normally assuming'a tilted position by the influence of the spring 14, is brought in its position shown in chain lines in Fig. 9. Besides, the pivotal flap is provided with a longitudinal groove15 for the thread. The further movement of the carriage 3 actuates two thread looping arms 16, 17. These arms are tiltable round a common pivot 18 secured to the base 1 and held apart in their respective inoperative positions by a spring 19. The base 1 is further provided with a block 20 for receiving the thread the upper side of which is formed with a longitudinal recess 21, a transverse incision 22, and an oblique incision 23 disposed on the left half of the block only. The incision 23 is so directed to c mmunicate with the recess 21 adjacent the place where the latter is crossed by the transverse incision In the recess 21 a tappet 24: is linked tov a pin 25. The tappet 24 is provided with a linger 26 which is held in its vertical inoperm tive position, as shown in Fig. 3, by overweight of the other finger 27 of the tappet. By shifting the lever 28, which is turnabl): mounted on a slide 33 on a pin 32 thereof and influenced by the spring 29, in the direction of the arrow 30 (Fig. 3) the tappet is turned about the pin 25 in the direction of the arrow 31 into its horizontal position. inclicated in chain lines in this figure. The recess 21 has a depressed portion so as to accommodate the finger 26 in the said position, suchwise, that the lever 28 when further shifted is adapted to pass over the tappet The finger 26 hasjust such a length that when lowered its front portion extends over the crossing of the recess 21 and the incision The slide 33 is displaceable along two guide bars 34:, its movement being limited on the one side by the block 20 and on the other side by the stop 35. The underside of the slide is provided with a recess 36 in which a pushbolt 37' is longitudinally displaceable. The latter is formed with a slot 38 which cooperates with a pin 39 traversing the same for suitably limiting the movement of the bolt relatively to the slide. The slide is provided with two lateral. projections 40 to which two pushers 41 are linked. The push-bolt 37 has a forward wedge-shaped portion 42 for cooperation with an inclined portion 43 on a block 44. When the slide is moved in the direction of the arrow 30 the push-bolt 37 is not entrained thereby until the pin 39 is shifted "for the length of the slot 38.

In this moment the slide has arrived in its position, as shown in chain lines in Fig. 3. On further shifting the slide in the same direction the push-bolt 37 moves in unison therewith so as to raise the block 44 by means of its wedge shaped front part (Fig. 7) and to hold it at the end of the shifting movement in the raised position, as shown in Fig. 8. To the block 1d two clamping members for the thread 45 and 46 and two push rods &7 and 18 are connected.

The clamping members and push rods are inserted in corresponding vertical bores 45, 46, 17 and 48 of the block 20 (Fig. 5). As the twopush rods 47 and 48 are fixed to the block 1-1 they provide guidance for the said block. The clamping members as well as the push rods project from the lower side of the base. The coil spring 50 onthe push rod 47 tends to press the same together with the block 44: and the push rod 48 downwardly. When the block bears on the basel the ap purtenance comprising it is in inoperative position. The clamping members 45, 46 for the thread are each displaceable in their respective bores of the block 44% by means of downwardly extending; shanks and are en gageable to partake in the upward movement of the block 4A against the action of correlated coil spri .gs d9, 52, by means of studs 51 and 51 respectively passed through the said shanks.

The hammer-shaped heads of the clamping members 45 and 46 in their inoperative positions rest on the upper side of the blockQO and are adapted for special purposes to be moved upwardly independently of each other or of the block 1 1. On both sides of the block scissors are arranged for cutting the thread ends to be tied in a knot to the desired length. Each pair of scissors comprises two blades 54:, 55 pivoted to the block 20 by means of a pin 53. Each blade is provided below its fulcrum with a crescent shaped portion 56 and 57 respectively which is surrounded by a semi-circular extension 58 and 59 respectiv y of a lever 60. Between the extensions 58 and 59 a wedge portion 61 is formed on the lever which on turning the lever about a pivot- 63 on the block 20 in the direction of the arrow 62, separates the crescent shaped portions and, thereby, closes the scissors. lVhen the lever is turned in the opposite direction to the arrow 62 the extensions 58 and 59 of the lever press on the portions 56 and 57 of the scissor blades 54 and 55, thus causing the scissors to open.

The underside of the lever 60 is provided with a slanting portion 6% for the wedge shaped front part 65 of the respective pusher ll to slide on (when the slide 33 moves in the direction of the arrow 30) in order to cause the lever to move upwardly and the scissors to close.

During the rearward motion of the slide the slanting portion 66 on the upper side of the pusher in connection with the arm 67 ot the lever 60 effects the resetting of the latter into inoperative position. The scissor mechanism is protected by a guard plate 68 secured to the block 20. I In a pocket 69 of the guard plate a coil spring 70 ishoused for exerting the necessary srdepressureon the scissor blades for effecting a clean cutonthe thread;

' To enable the thread to be held. fast'previous and during the knottin'goperation the base 1 is further provlde'd' with three stationary clamping appliances. In line. with:

the incision 22 the-clamping appliances :7 and 72 are disposed and to'the left hand side (seen from the operatingend of the device) and in linewith the incisionj23 the clamping appliance 73 isplaced. These further clamping appliances comprisea fixed leg 7a and a 1 spring pressed turnable leg 75.

Theoperation of the device for effecting a weavers'knot is as follows:

The two threads to be joined are designated with A and B and their'ends .to be tied to" a knot with a and b respectively. At first the thread A; is clamped. to the device with its free end a inserted in the clamping appliance 73' (Figs. 10 andlQ) wherefrom it is passed through the incision'23,-.recess 21, and the groove of the pivotalflap' 13 tothe clamping appliancefi', 8 to bear on the curved part of the guideledge12. The second thread B is then placed in theincision 22 with its free end I) inserted in the clamping appliance 72, WllGIQUPOHtllG knotti'ng operation may begin by quickly. shiftingthe slide 33withithe one hand in "the directionwofgthe arrow (Fig. 3) until it hits on the blockQO. By this movement: three-subsidiary motions are initiated.

' lnthe first place the fingerQSisturned down by the lever 28 in order to hold'the threads-at their point ofcrossing. Thenthe'soissors are closed in the'manner described above and thereupon the clampingnienibers and 46 and the push rods Mand'48 raised. The raising ofthe push rods erects the thread ends a,.?), cutgbyth'e scissors to a vertical posi.-

. tionsoasto project somewhat above-the block.

20 (Fig. 13). a a I Afterwards the clamping applian'ceffi, 8.

is gripped with the other'ha'nd by the handlesv 7 and 9iand displaced in the'direction 0f the arrow 11(Fig. l2). During'this'movement thetiltable flap is turned into its ver ti-, cal position, as indicated in chain lines n Fig.

9,.and at the end of the movement the thread portion positioned in thegroove of thetiltable flap is formed in a loop 0 (Figs. '6" and.

14). a v I I v Thefront parts of the clamping members 6 and 8 HIQ'SO far entered in the recess during;

7 this movement until. they butt againstthe front part of thelever 28. On further shifting the carriage 3 the lever 28 is pushed back and the slide 33 togetherwith it.'j Soon after the abovesaid" abutting the lower 1 portions of the carriage 3; hit on .the lower portions of the thread looping arms 16,- 17,- thus causing the latter to move in thedirectionzof the ar rowsshown in Fig; 12,, whereby th e said arms endfa at this. time. and beforetheothe'rcnd Z2 is released it is necessary thatthe spring,

52 is weaker than the. spring49; Otherwise theformation of acweaversknot woul'd'berendered impossible and-xatfaulty kI'IOi'fOITDO knot. at all would result. Ons further retract ing 'thecarriage 3 the thread end I) is: then released from the'corresponding: clamping head whereafterther-knot is finished asisoon as the carriage is arrested by: the: extreme stop: member: Fig. 17 illustrates the knot: completely'formed but not entirely tightened. In this positionofthe parts thedevice is in readinessfor startinga fresh knoti Due to the factthatfthe scissors cut the thread ends every time-to-the correct length all the knots are formed \Vllihrflfii thread. endsof. unif0rmextent which issuclr-that a subsequent trimming; of the said ends is not necessary; It is ObVl'OUSfthfltfitllG possibility of .effecting-weavers knots-"0f uniform: siZe=and shapetis ofconsiderable"advantage:

for the-weavingand'similarrindustries. Em

perience has shown that the described device permits I of constantly-effecting: fworkmanlike weavers" knots; even. with the finest threads of artificial-silk; This-also is :a very valuable result. 7 a

Naturally many details 0ft theldescribed" device may be varied, for instance, the car riage- 3 andtheslide 33 could be-interconnected by suitable.membersinfsuch manner that theniovementl either. of the-carriage'or:

the slide alone or of'soineiadditional control member would .initiateithe different; working. incidences necessarygfor the knotting. Moreover, the-two hammer shape-d thread clamp ing members 45 and-fiins'teadbf being pro-- vided withunequal'springs'might-be suitably" alternatelyactuated bymeans of-cam disks or the like which were rotated-by the movement: of-zthe carriage 3. This design wouldeliminate the drawbacks arising. from the relaxation of the springs and the-necessityof regularly -controlling the tensioning of the same without substantially, complicating. the construction ofthe device. I I

I claim:

3 1. In a devicerfor tyingthreadsin weav-- ers knot, in combination; a bed=-f -)r.accommodating the threads in intercrossedposition, aclamping-appliance for the: one thread dis-- placeablerelatively to said ,bed' for forming:

a loopwith this said threads-about:thevother,

a clamping appliance for the one thread dis-- placeable relatively to said bed for forming a loop with said thread about the other, thread cutting means combined with said bed and adapted to cut the ends of thecrossed threads in the requisite length for the finished knot to be formed, means for holding the crossed threads against said bed at their place of junction. while said loop is formed, means for bending the cut thread ends into the form oi a booklet, a base for said bed, a hammershaped clamping head for each hook-shaped thread end, a shank provided on each clamping head and extending through a throughbore in said bed beyond the underside of said base, two compression springs of difierent strength, one for each shank to surround the same between the underside of said base and the lower end of the shank for urging said clamping heads against said bed into locking position with different pressure adapting said heads to release the thread ends successively and releasing means for said clamping heads.

3. In a device for tying threads in a Weavers knot, in combination, a bed for accommodating the threads in intercrossed position, a recess in said bed, a pivot pin crossing said recess, a tappet swingably mounted on said pivot pin, two fingers constituting said tappet, the one being held inoperative in upstanding position by overweight of the other, a clamping appliance for the one thread displaceable relatively to said bed for forming a loop with this said thread about the other, thread cutting means combined with said bed and adapted to cut the ends of the crossed threads in the requisite length for the finished knot to be formed, a slide cooperating with said bed, a spring influenced lever provided on said slide and adapted to swing said tappet into horizontal position to hold the crossed threads against said bed at their place of junction while said loop is formed, means for bending the cut thread ends into the form'oii a booklet, and releasable clamping means for said hook-shaped thread ends.

4. In a device for tying threads in a weavers knot, in combination, a bed for acccommodating the threads in intercrossed position a clamping appliance for the one thread dis placeable relatively to said bed for forming a loop with said thread about the other, thread cutting means combined with said bed and adapted to cut the ends of the crossed threads in the requisite length for the finished knot to be formed, means for holding the crossed threads against said bed at their place of junction while said loop is formed, push-rods slidable in bores of said bed push-rods for upturning the cut thread ends into the form of a booklet, a carrier-block for said push rods, a spring cooperating with said push rods to urge the same downwardly in said bed into inoperative position together with said block, a slide cooperating with said bed, a push-bolt yieldingly connected to said slide, a wedge-shaped. front portion on said pushbolt to grip under saidblock for operating said push rods against the action of said spring, and releasable clamping means for said hook-shaped thread ends.

5. In a device for tying threads in a weavers knot, in combination, a bed for accommodating the threads in intercrossed position, a clamping appliance for the one thread displaceable relatively to said bed for forming a loop with said thread about the other, thread cutting means combined with said bed and adapted to cut the ends of the crossed threads in the requisite length for the finished knot to be tormed,'means for holding the crossed threads against said bed at their place of junction whilesaid loop is formed, push rods slidable in bores of said bed for upturning the cut thread ends into the form of a booklet, a carrier block for said push rods, a base for said bed, a hammer-shaped clamphead for each hook-shaped thread end, a shank provided on each clamping head, a stop pin passed through each shank, and cooperating with the through-bore in said bed for each shank to extend therethrough beyond the underside of said base, two compression springs of diiterent strength, one for each shank to surround the same between the underside of said base and the lower end of the shank for urging said clamping heads against said bed into locking position, and guide surfaces in said carrier block for the shanks of said clamping heads to pass through adapting said block to release said clamping heads by engagement with said stop pins against the action of said compression springs and adapting said clamping heads. to be locked by said springs independently of said block.

6. In a device for tying threads in a weavers knot, in combination, a bed for accommodating the threads in intercrossed position, a clamping appliance for the one thread displaceable relatively to said bed for forming a loop with this said thread about the other, thread cutting means combined with said bed on either side thereof and adapted to cut the ends of the crossed threads in the requisite length for the finished knot to be formed, two scissor blades for each clamping means, a crescent shaped extension on each blade, a common pivot pinfor the blades disposed intermediate of the point and the 'extension of'the blades, an actuating lever for said blades cooperating with said crescentshaped extensions on each side or" said bed, a slide cooperating with said bed, pushers connected to said slide for engagement with said actuating levers, means for holding the crossed threads against said bed at their place of junction while said loopis formed, means for bending the cut thread ends into the form of a hooklet, and releasable clamping means for said hook-shaped thread ends.

7. In a device for tying threads in a weavers knot, in combination, a. bed for accommodating the threads in 'intercrossed position, a clamping appliance for the one thread displaceable relatively to said bed for form- 7 ing a loop with this said thread about the other, thread cutting'means combined with said bed on either side thereof and adapted to cut the ends of the crossed threads in the requisite length for the finished knot to be formed, two scissor blades for each clamping means, a crescent shaped extension on each blade, a common pivot pin for the blades disposed intermediate of the point and the extension of the blades, an actuating lever for said blades cooperating with said cres-v cent-shaped extensions on each side of said bed, semi-circular portions on said lever each surrounding one of said crescent-shaped extensions for opening the scissors, a Wedgeshaped portion on said lever for closing said scissors by moving the extensions apart, a slide cooperating with said bed, pushers connected to said slide for engagement with said actuating levers, means for holding the crossed threads against said bed at their place of junction while said loop is formed, means for bending the out thread ends into the form of a booklet, and releasable clamping means for said hook-shaped thread ends.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT RAMSEIER. 

